My most recent trip to WA resulted in one fun session and two cancellations. Those two cancellations resulted in a bit more family time, so I can't really be all that sour about it. The main lesson here is, winter is slow because folks 1) are busy with holiday hubbub and 2) are broke from holiday hubbub.The initial plan was to fly in Friday night and rest up for a early Saturday morning session. Well, it turns out circumstances led to that Saturday 9am client asking me if I could do a late night session on Friday instead. I obliged and I'm glad I did... I'm more of a night owl than an early bird anyways! Per normal protocol, we went straight from the airport to Dick’s.Recognize.Then, in preparation for the late night session, we hit up my favorite 24hr coffee stand.No… not one of those kind.I drink coffee for the coffee, not the view.I was only able to get a few bites of the deluxe and fries in before I had to prep and the client arrived around midnight. Fitting for a session like that, I was fresh out of thermofax paper… so I makeshifted and hand drew the skull, waves, and chelly brossoms to the existing half sleeve koi that I completed back in March.I wish I took a pic of the hand drawn stencil (another lesson learned).I think at that point, I was just itching to get started, so I didn’t think about a pre-tattoo photo.My brother and another buddy joined the session and helped keep us all entertained as we enjoyed some background music of golden oldies then island reggae. By the time I put the shader down for the last time, it was around 4:20am.The client asked for a skull with waves down to about ¾ sleeve, but tapered like a tribal tattoo design.The final photo below includes another lesson… when doing a sleeve, remember to take the photos of the full rotation of the arm.When it’s all said and done, all we get is some sketches, a line drawing, and some photos.The client walks away wearing the product of these things.Luckily I have photos from last time showing the whirlpool on the inside of the arm.You’ll just have to put these two pics together and imagine it…

Half sleeve, before the skull and waves

Tapered 3/4 sleeve, after the skull and waves

I'm pretty pleased with how the piece came out and I think my client is as well.My next trip up to WA probably won't be until late February, so until then I need to get my ass in gear and start painting more often. Hopefully I can lock down some Bay Area clients as well.In other news, I finally stepped in to the 21st century and got myself a smahtphone. I am now addicted to Instagram. Thanks, smahtphone! If you want to, find me and follow me... "hands_on_lanzon". If you don't want to, don't! Thanks for reading!